Around 93.3 million voters will decide the fate of 5,501 candidates in the fray across all 234 assembly seats in Tamil Nadu and 152 of the 294 constituencies in West Bengal on Thursday.
The second phase of voting for the remaining 142 seats in West Bengal will be held on April 29. The votes will be counted on May 4 for the two states along with Kerala, Assam and Puducherry, where polling took place on April 9.
In West Bengal, chief minister Mamata Banerjee-led ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) is seeking a fourth consecutive term, while its arch rival the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is aiming to oust the incumbent government.
The Congress and Left parties, which were virtually decimated in the assembly polls five years ago, are hoping for a revival in the eastern state.
In Tamil Nadu, the contest is primarily between the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhgam (AIADMK)-led National Democratic Alliance.
The entry of actor-politician Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has, however, spiced up the contest.
Around 2,400 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have been deployed for the West Bengal polls, while 1,700 CAPF companies have been deployed for the Tamil Nadu polls.
